Mia licked her chocolate and cotton candy ice cream with Oreos on it and in a cone. " This is good stuff." She mumbled.

Nelson, who was having strawberry and pistachio nodded as he took a large bite of his ice cream. " It's nice how we get the whole day to ourselves.

Mia smiled and nodded. " Hey, you wanna go pick apples?*

Nelson's frin widened. " Obviously! It's our tradition!"

Mia laughed. " Yes. That it is, Nelson. That it is."
******

Mia and Nelson arrived at the orchard, where the sweet scent of ripe fruit filled the air. Rows upon rows of apple trees stretched out before them, their branches heavy with vibrant red, green, and yellow apples. The sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a warm glow over everything.

The friendly orchard owner, a cheerful woman with a sunhat, greeted them with a wide smile. "Hello there! You two here for some apple picking?" she asked.

Mia and Nelson nodded eagerly. "Yes, ma'am!" Nelson said, his eyes already scanning the trees.

"Well, you’re just in time," the woman said, handing them each a large basket. "These should do the trick. Fill them up with whatever you like—apples, pears, peaches—you name it!"

"Thank you!" Mia said as she accepted her basket. It was bigger than she expected, but she was up for the challenge. She looked at Nelson, who was already heading towards the nearest tree. "Come on!" she called after him, hurrying to catch up.

They started picking apples, carefully selecting the ripest ones they could find. Mia loved the way the different colors of the fruit contrasted against the deep green of the leaves. She reached up to pluck a perfect golden apple from a branch, holding it up to the light. It gleamed in the sunlight, and she couldn't resist. She took a small bite, savoring the sweet, juicy flavor.

Nelson, meanwhile, had spotted a tree full of Granny Smith apples. He picked one that looked especially crisp and green and took a bite as well, enjoying the tartness that made his mouth water. "This is why we come here every year," he said with a grin, his cheeks puffed out from the bite he had taken.

Mia chuckled, agreeing as she continued to fill her basket with apples of every kind. "Definitely. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of this place."

They moved from tree to tree, laughing and talking as they filled their baskets to the brim with all sorts of fruit—crisp apples, juicy peaches, and even a few pears. Nelson occasionally snuck another bite from an apple or a peach, and Mia did the same, enjoying the fresh flavors. The orchard seemed to wrap them in a bubble of happiness and warmth, making the day feel perfect.

By the time their baskets were full, Mia and Nelson were both smiling from ear to ear. "We did good," Nelson said, looking at the bounty of fruit they had collected.

Mia nodded, her face slightly sticky from the juices of the apples she'd sampled. "Yeah, we did. This is the best tradition ever."

After filling their baskets with fruit, Mia and Nelson found a cozy bench at the edge of the orchard, where they could relax and admire their haul. As they sat down, a gentle breeze rustled the leaves around them, carrying with it the sweet scent of the orchard.

Just as they settled in, a rainbow appeared in the sky, stretching across the horizon in a dazzling array of colors. The sight was breathtaking, and both of them stared in awe, momentarily forgetting everything else.

Mia leaned against Nelson, resting her head on his shoulder. "This is perfect," she said softly. "I love this."

Nelson, feeling the warmth of her close beside him, smiled and turned slightly to look at her. "Yeah, it really is," he agreed, his voice almost a whisper.

Mia glanced up at him, her eyes twinkling. "But you know what? I don’t love it as much as I love you."

Nelson’s eyes widened slightly in surprise, and a deep blush spread across his cheeks. He wasn’t sure what to say at first, but he could feel his heart racing. "I… I love you too, Mia," he finally managed to say, his voice shy but sincere.

Mia smiled at his response, feeling a warm, happy flutter in her chest. She reached out and took his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. They sat there together, hand in hand, watching the rainbow as it slowly faded from the sky. The moment felt magical, like it belonged just to them, and they both knew it was a memory they’d treasure forever.

As they sat together, savoring the peaceful moment, they heard the faint click of a camera. Startled, they both turned to see a familiar face grinning at them from a few feet away. It was Rose, one of their mutual friends, holding up her phone with a mischievous smile.

"Gotcha!" Rose teased, waving her phone playfully. "You two looked too cute not to capture the moment."

Mia narrowed her eyes playfully at Rose. "Not helping, Rose!" she called out, though there was no real annoyance in her voice—just a hint of embarrassment mixed with a smile.

Nelson blushed even deeper, trying to hide his face, but Mia just laughed, squeezing his hand again. "It's okay, Nelson," she reassured him, her tone light. "Now we've got proof of how perfect this day was."

Rose chuckled and walked over to them, still holding her phone. "You guys are seriously adorable. But don’t worry, I’ll keep this one just between us," she said with a wink, showing them the picture she had taken.

In the photo, Mia and Nelson looked as happy and close as could be, with the rainbow framing them perfectly in the background. Despite the unexpected photo op, Mia couldn’t help but smile at how well the picture captured the magic of the moment.

"Alright, you’re forgiven," Mia said with a grin, leaning back against Nelson. "But you owe us ice cream next time for this, Rose."

"Deal," Rose agreed with a laugh, putting her phone away. "Now, you two lovebirds enjoy the rest of your day. I’ll see you around!"

As Rose walked off, Mia and Nelson shared a look, their earlier embarrassment fading into warm laughter.

Nelson glanced at the sky, noticing the sun beginning to dip lower on the horizon. "We should probably head home," he suggested, his tone gentle. "It's getting late."

Mia nodded in agreement, reluctantly pulling herself away from the comfortable spot on the bench. "Yeah, you're right." She looked around and called out, "Hey, Rose, wait up!"

Rose, who had started to walk away, turned back with a curious look. "What’s up?"

"Where’s Jake?" Mia asked, her eyebrow furrowing.

Rose grinned, clearly amused. "He's at home, trying to hang a picture on the wall. You know how he is—wants everything to be just right."

Mia chuckled, shaking her head. "Sounds like Jake. We better head back and see if he needs help before he accidentally knocks down the whole wall."

Nelson laughed softly, standing up and brushing off his clothes. "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea."